Dinner:Went out for Chinese hotpot! I think this is the most paleo-friendly dining-out experience one can have. Basically, you have a pot of broth cooking in the middle of a table, and you order little dishes of raw things to cook in the pot (there's a burner under the pot, which stays on for the entire duration of the meal). I ordered lamb, fatty beef, salmon, watercress, spinach, chicken wings marinated in wine...there's more, but I can't remember, as it was all you an eat

Also tried pig liver and pig kidney. Bless the Chinese and their organ meats.

I definitely feel better now that I've scaled back the meat and added more veggies and other sources of fat. My veggies are usually cooked with a healthy amount of coconut oil, and my salads are usually loaded with olive oil! I think this is the best combo for me - I am comfortably satiated, and these meals usually last me a good 4 - 6 hours

I've been feeling ok, I guess. This past week or so, I've been having only 2 meals a day. I don't really feel that hungry in the morning, but I have a good lunch with lots of protein and vegetables. Dinner is also protein, vegetables, but I've also added a few bites of rice. I go to the gym after dinner, and I'll usually have a bit of tea before I go to bed, or maybe a few berries if I feel like it.

I did experiment with a few non-paleo foods, just to see how they would make me feel:1% Milk - I feel fine.1 shot Reposado tequila - I feel fine, as long as I have some meat and fat afterwards.A few gingersnaps - felt horrible afterwards. At first I felt kind of dizzy and hyper from the sugar, then I had the worst headache.

Other than that, I'm ok. I don't see the results that I want to see yet, but it's probably due to a number of other factors. I'm slowly getting back to the gym after recovering from a knee injury, working on portion control, etc.

I did experiment with a few non-paleo foods, just to see how they would make me feel:1% Milk - I feel fine.1 shot Reposado tequila - I feel fine, as long as I have some meat and fat afterwards.A few gingersnaps - felt horrible afterwards. At first I felt kind of dizzy and hyper from the sugar, then I had the worst headache.

Since I have been doing a considerable amount of strength training lately (and I really want to improve/increase my weight in such activities), I have also added some carbohydrates (besides vegetables and fruits) to my diet.

The two "carb-heavy" foods that I will occasionally eat now is white rice and sweet potatoes.

See, I am at 125 lbs, so I do not need to lose any more weight. When I wanted to lose 45 lbs (about 17 months ago), I decided to go hardcore Paleo for an entire year (and the first 7 months without fruit) and it worked perfectly. Now that I found out that I can maintain the same weight, feel great, and improve my physical performances with healthy carbohydrates, I eat them more often.

In regards to dairy, I feel fine with cheeses and heavy cream. I eat/drink them both all the time (I mean ALL THE TIME). Yes, I know they aren't Paleo, and I know they can be rough on the digestive system, but after reading extensively about them (and the simple fact that cheeses typically have 0g of carbs), I don't see a big deal in eating them (unless it is really late at night, and then I occassionally notice morning stomach aches).

Finally (I know this is a long post, haha sorry), the way that you felt after eating the gingersnaps is exactly how I (and most people) feel after being use to the Paleolithic lifestyle. Regulating and not spoiling your insulin levels is such an important part of the Paleolithic diet, and when you spike it with cookies, you certainly feel super hyper and then have serious headaches (just like a little kid, haha).

Anyways, I just wanted to share all my thoughts on your last post with you. Mainly because I have been on this diet for 17 months, and I feel as though you are really understanding the knowledge, experience, and physicality behind this way of life.

See, I am at 125 lbs, so I do not need to lose any more weight. When I wanted to lose 45 lbs (about 17 months ago), I decided to go hardcore Paleo for an entire year (and the first 7 months without fruit) and it worked perfectly. Now that I found out that I can maintain the same weight, feel great, and improve my physical performances with healthy carbohydrates, I eat them more often.

Holy crap, how tall are you? 125lbs is quite light! Also, I tried eating no fruit/rice/anything starchy, but it didn't work out too well for me, which is why I've been having berries/apples/few bite of rice at dinner. Question: do you there are different carb needs for girls/guys on paleo? I've met a few paleos in Toronto, and most of the girls seem to feel best with a higher ratio of carbs (from pumpkin/squash/rice/yams/fruit, etc.), while most of the guys seem to do fine with very little carbs. Or is it just different for everyone?

Anyways, I just wanted to share all my thoughts on your last post with you. Mainly because I have been on this diet for 17 months, and I feel as though you are really understanding the knowledge, experience, and physicality behind this way of life.

It's been a journey filled with experimentation and (sometimes) doubts, but I think I really am starting to understand it. I feel better and better everyday - especially since I started doing IF (completely by mistake; I just woke up late and didn't have breakfast one day but was surprised I didn't feel too hungry until 12pm rolled around). I do have to say - your advice and insight has been quite reassuring and inspiring. I've set some health and fitness goals for myself, and I hope to share my success with you soon!

Notes/Observations: 1) My lunches tend to be more protein and fat-based, while dinner (which still doesn't lack meat/fat) has a few carbs from rice/veggies/fruits thrown in. I sleep better if I have more carbs in the evening as opposed to at lunch.2) My workouts are MUCH better in the morning. I don't know if this is because my stomach is empty, if I have more energy in the morning, or if I'm just a morning person. This kind of sucks as I have to go to work in the morning, which results in a mad rush to shower/pack my lunch, but I try. 3) Sleep is SO IMPORTANT! Pre-paleo, if I didn't get enough sleep, I'd be so dead throughout the day, and I'll want to have some coffee/sugar to pick me up (of course, this backfires as I would crash an hour later). After I started, I've noticed that if I don't get a good night's rest, I'm not completely zombie-like, but I do eat more carbs (fruits, etc.) to be satisfied.

I am new to this forum, and fairly new to paleo. It has been good reading your posts as I'm struggling to remain full for long and am now experimenting with protein and fat portions. Because I am wanting to lose weight, I'm scared of eating too much, but then if I don't eat enough of the right things, then I'm just thinking about my next meal all day! Today has been better though - more protein, eggs for afternoon snack, more coconut oil with lunch/dinner.

I might start a food journal page too, seeing as you got lots of good advice on yours!

I am new to this forum, and fairly new to paleo. It has been good reading your posts as I'm struggling to remain full for long and am now experimenting with protein and fat portions. Because I am wanting to lose weight, I'm scared of eating too much, but then if I don't eat enough of the right things, then I'm just thinking about my next meal all day! Today has been better though - more protein, eggs for afternoon snack, more coconut oil with lunch/dinner.

I might start a food journal page too, seeing as you got lots of good advice on yours!

Cheers,AllyBelly

@ AllyBelly - welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found my food journal helpful - you're right, I've gotten a lot of tips and advice here. People like Zensenji, Warren, and Jean have helped me quite a bit along my paleo journey

Everyone responds differently to different foods, so don't be afraid to try and see what combinations/proportions work for you. Even weight loss is achieved differently for everyone - a lot of people will tell you to just eat meat, fats, and leafy vegetables, but I've found I feel more satisfied and able to work out better when I have a bit of fruit and starchy vegetable everyday. I've made good progress so far

First of all, I do need to post more food photos! I've been eating 90% Paleo (10% of my meals involve sweet potatoes or rice because of my unyielding crave for Asian food ALL. THE. TIME).

However, my dad and I have still been cooking up a Paleo-storm in our kitchen, and I definitely need to take more food photos [like I used to do in my food journal] and post them in my food journal for inspiration to both myself and the other viewers.

Regardless, you are right when you say that both my parents and my friends have been supportive. Both my mom and my dad (my dad's diet is about 70% Paleo) have been supportive because not only do they trust my intellect, but they are both open to new theories on nutrition. They both know that throughout the past century, foods such as eggs have been labeled as "bad" then "good" then "bad" and back and forth several times, proving that even though we all believe in certain diets like religions, we really know nothing about nutrition. Therefore, they were willing to listen to my radical beliefs when I discovered the Paleolithic diet.

When I first started the diet, I explained the biological effects to both of them in a simple, yet detailed manner. When you educate your family and friends without imposing your will on them (especially concerning cholesterol, because that's everyone's first argument). Then it certainly makes them more open to such a radical diet. On the friend's side of the equation, well, one of my smartest friends got me on the diet (when I primarily wanted to lose weight).

Since then, all my friends and family have seen how healthy, strong and energetic I've become in the past eighteen months (and most of them have also seen ALL of my blood work improve). Not only are most of my friends at least 80% Paleo, but I have physically inspired dozens of people to try the Paleolithic diet without forcing them to "drink the Kool Aid" from the Paleo-cult.

Anyways, I will tell you one last thing about the people around you. Most people believe in mainstream nutrition theories these days, so it does get to a point where you will get tired of proving people wrong in biological debates or stupid arguments. Now, it has gotten to the point where I don't try to interject when people tell me to eat as many grains as possible (or other ridiculous and unproven nutritional theories).

At this point, I just let it go. I've explained my diet to hundreds, I mean hundreds of people over the last year and a half, and it gets tiring, so you have to realize that you can't constantly impose your will on other people, but rather find inspiration inside yourself to exercise and eat well as often as possible (and it's not easy, as you have noticed by now that every meal, every day is a tough decision as to how strict you would like to be on the Paleo diet). Indeed, Winter is more difficult than other seasons to stay a caveman/cavewoman, but what the Paleolithic diet, as well as everything else in life, boils down to is doing what makes you comfortable and happy in life. Even though I break the diet sometimes, the mostly Paleo-lifestyle that I live makes me happy (both physically and mentally), and that's why I do it. As you get older, you realize that all you want to do is feel better and better, and this diet has done that for me.

I am thankful for the people and support around me, and I will shut up now, because this is the most ridiculous and ramble-filled post of all time. I will talk to you more about this soon.

Ok! I have stopped posting in my food journal for a while (partly because I went away on vacation or a bit, and partly because when I came back from vacation, I've started school), but an update:

- I've FINALLY moved out and into my own apartment!

- I've FINALLY started eating completely the way I want to (living with my parents, who only believe in boneless, skinless chicken breasts, made it hard to eat the strict paleo diet that I feel that I'm best at)

- AND....on January 2nd, 2012 I stepped on the scale and it read 155lbs. I didn't weigh myself since until today...and the scale read 129 lbs. I don't know whether to believe it or not, since today is January 11, which means it's only been 8 days. Whatever - I'm going to hold on to this illusion and take it as encouragement that I'm doing something right.